Rules and Regulation news, page 9
- January 2026
Existing Targets Framework to cease to have effect
The four-year smart meter Targets Framework ends on 1 January 2026, with no further annual installation targets set for suppliers, under post-2025 proposals from the government.
Financial vulnerability rises as "doing well" share falls for the first time since 2023
Ofgem's January 2026 survey shows the share of households classified as doing well fell from 53% to 44%, the first drop since 2023, with financial vulnerability back to January 2025 levels.
Government consultation on continuing the Warm Home Discount concluded
A government consultation on continuing the Warm Home Discount has concluded, with changes to the scheme made in response from April 2026 onwards.
Next price cap change due on 1 January 2026
The energy price cap rose 2% on 1 October 2025 to £1,755 a year for a typical household, and changes again on 1 January 2026, with the next level due by 25 November.
Ofgem publishes letter and guide for energy suppliers and debt advice providers
Ofgem has published a letter to energy suppliers and a guide for suppliers and debt advice providers after failing to agree a voluntary Code of Practice on debt support.
Ofgem to regulate heat networks
Ofgem becomes the regulator for heat networks across England, Scotland and Wales from January 2026, with consumer protection rules commencing on 27 January and the Energy Ombudsman already handling disputes.
Partial response to Energy Performance of Buildings regime reforms consultation published
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published a post-implementation review of the 2012 Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations for England and Wales, covering January 2018 to January 2023.
Phase 1 SLCs expected to come into force
Ofgem expects the first phase of its Debt Relief Scheme special licence conditions to come into force in January 2026, with applications opening to households on means-tested benefits in the first quarter of the year.
SMMT says gap between EV demand and ZEV mandate ambition is increasing
The SMMT said in its January 2026 release on 2025 car sales that the gap between electric vehicle demand and the ambition of the UK's zero emission vehicle mandate is increasing rather than diminishing.
UKERC publishes Review of Energy Policy 2025
UKERC's Review of Energy Policy 2025 attributes most of a £169 real-terms rise in typical electricity bills to wholesale gas prices, and backs the decision against zonal pricing.
- December 2025
London Congestion Charge exemption for electric vehicles due to end
The London Congestion Charge exemption for electric vehicles ends on 25 December 2025, after which electric cars entering central London will pay a discounted daily charge rather than nothing.
Fire safety roof insulation report published
The Building Safety Regulator has published research into spray foam roof insulation, finding that combustible retrofit insulation can still meet the highest roof classification despite increasing fire load.
Government launches consultation on the future of heating for oil heated homes
The government has opened a consultation on how oil heated homes should be heated in future, proposing a switch to heat pumps or heat networks, with responses due by 10 February 2026.
Committee on Fuel Poverty response to Warm Home Discount consultation published
The Committee on Fuel Poverty has published its response to the government consultation on continuing the Warm Home Discount Scheme, covering England, Scotland and Wales.
Ofgem Debt Relief Scheme statutory consultation closes
Ofgem's statutory consultation on how its Energy Debt Relief Scheme will work closed on 18 December 2025, with the scheme to be delivered in two phases during 2026.
MCS welcomed an opportunity to co-lead a distributed energy assets project
MCS has welcomed an opportunity to co-lead a project on improving the visibility of distributed energy assets, announced on its working groups page dated 12th December 2025.
MCS published updated standards for air-to-air heat pump implementation
MCS published updated heat pump standards in December 2025 covering air-to-air products and installations, the first step before the technology is fully implemented into its certification schemes.
Consumer Scotland publishes response to UK Government consultation on the energy ombudsman
Consumer Scotland has backed a four-week wait before householders can escalate an energy complaint to the Energy Ombudsman, and financial penalties for suppliers that ignore its decisions.
Consultation on moving Warm Home Discount cost recovery to the unit rate opens
The government has opened a consultation on moving recovery of Warm Home Discount costs, £39 on a typical dual fuel bill, from the standing charge to the unit rate from April 2026.
ECO4 cost recovery consultation launched
The government has opened a consultation on amending the ECO4 Order so that public grant funding can pay energy suppliers for the scheme, running until 5 January 2026.
GB Energy publishes its 5-year strategic plan
Great British Energy has published a five-year strategic plan setting three priorities to 2030, alongside an Ofgem investment package worth £28 billion for the gas and electricity networks.
Ofgem confirms £28 billion grid investment
Ofgem has confirmed a £28 billion network investment package, with £17.8 billion for gas reinforcement and £10.3 billion for electricity transmission across 80 projects over five years.
Ofgem publishes RIIO-3 Final Determination
Ofgem published its RIIO-3 Final Determination for gas and electricity transmission companies and gas distribution networks on 4 December 2025, setting network revenues that feed through to household bills.
Citizens Advice published its ED3 consultation response
Citizens Advice has published its detailed response to Ofgem's consultation on the Sector-Specific Methodology for the ED3 price control, which will set network charges from 2028 to 2033.
BEV registrations exceed ZEV mandate target for the first time in 2025
Battery electric vehicles took 32.2% of UK new car registrations in December 2025, the only month of the year in which the 28% zero emission vehicle mandate target was met.
Citizens Advice, IPPR and Policy in Practice publish blueprint for targeted bill support
Citizens Advice, IPPR and Policy in Practice have published a blueprint for targeted bill support across water, motor insurance, energy and broadband, which they say could give an eligible household discounts of over £950 a year.
Draft NPPF consultation published proposing to prevent local authorities from setting local energy standards
A draft National Planning Policy Framework consultation published in December 2025 proposes to stop local authorities setting their own energy efficiency standards in planning policy, with responses due by 10 March.
Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 released
Labour released the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 on 1 December 2025, completing a rapid review announced in July 2024 and setting out a revised statutory plan for environmental targets.
UK Government publishes environmental improvement plan including consultation on domestic burning emissions
The UK Government published its environmental improvement plan in December 2025, including a consultation on cutting emissions from burning in homes in England, with the effect on wood burners not yet clear.
Hackney consolidated 27 SCAs into one borough-wide zone
Hackney combined its 27 separate smoke control areas into a single borough-wide zone from 1 December 2025, part of a wider pattern of English councils consolidating older designations.